Austin (United States) (AFP)

Lewis Hamilton has a new chance, this time almost inevitable, to seize a 6th world title Sunday at the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, after demonstrating in Mexico that he dominates the plateau of the head and shoulders.

He would no longer be 34 years old to only one record in Germany's Michael Schumacher (7).

It is now enough for the Mercedes driver to finish in the top eight to be crowned, whatever the result of his teammate and last rival Valtteri Bottas. The Finn must imperatively win to extend the expectation of the British.

With ten wins since the beginning of the season and five since 2012 on the circuit of the Americas in Austin (Texas), including four with Mercedes, Hamilton is a favored favorite, especially after his success last Sunday in Mexico, where he spread his science of the race to thwart the superiority shown by Ferrari in qualifying.

With four wins and five pole positions, "we have good results in Austin, but we had a tough weekend in Texas last year because of tire management issues" (Hamilton 3rd and Bottas 5th), recalls the boss of Silver Arrows, Toto Wolff. But the 2019 Mercedes "treats its tires more smoothly than the 2018, which should therefore pose fewer problems this year," wants to believe the Austrian.

- First essential line -

Last season, Ferrari won with Kimi Räikkönen. The Finn, now in his forties, is now racing at Alfa Romeo and the two Scuderia riders, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, who arrived this year, are engaged in a showdown to gain the upper hand.

They both aim for the third step on the final podium of the season, the Monegasque having a six-point advantage over the German while three races remain to be contested.

On the circuit of the Americas, going to the front row is essential because all the winners since the GP of the United States (2012) have qualified either 1st or 2nd.

The Ferrari are currently the fastest in qualifying but, as Mattia Binotto, Scuderia's boss, points out, "we started from pole in the last six races but we only won three and we want to do better than that. "

- Verstappen for a buy-back -

In Mexico, Leclerc however inherited the first place on the grid because of the penalty imposed on Max Verstappen not to have slowed down after the crash of Bottas in qualifying.

Second in Austin last year when his Red Bull was still powered by a Renault engine, the young Dutchman proved this season that the Honda that he has now in the back can compete with the Mercedes and the Ferrari, that he is the only one to have beaten this year.

But he will be expected at the turn for his 100th Grand Prix after his antics in Mexico, where his pole has been removed and where he hooked at first with Hamilton and Bottas before finishing 6th after a nice comeback.

Behind, the McLaren, 4th in the constructor championship already won by Mercedes, will want to redeem themselves for their poor performance in Mexico (Carlos Sainz 13th, abandonment for Lando Norris), while the fight is raging in the middle of the pack between the Renault, Toro Rosso and Racing Point.

"The fluidity of the course allows close battles and that explains why this race is still lively," said Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian driver of the French team. He finished 8th in Mexico behind Racing Point Sergio Perez but ahead of Pierre Gasly's Toro Rosso, showing that the gap between these three teams is very slim.

© 2019 AFP